Report of the trial of Prof. John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman : before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, holden at Boston, on Tuesday, March 19, 1850 / phonographic report by James W. Stone.

Webster, John White, 1793-1850.

Date:: 1850

Credit: Report of the trial of Prof. John W. Webster, indicted for the murder of Dr. George Parkman : before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, holden at Boston, on Tuesday, March 19, 1850 / phonographic report by James W. Stone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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$Some half a dozen persons were present. At the time I saw it, 1 can say that no person did anything to the body, except myself. I did 'not know that anything was in the box, until it was turned over. I thought that it was full of minerals. All we could see, at first, was the minerals. I took out some of the minerals at the top, but could not see the tan. There was a second layer of minerals. I stepped away from the box, when my attention was called again to it, after it had been turned over, by the other officers. I did not stop at the College on Friday night, when Dr. Webster was arrested, but did every day and night after this, until the body was removed. I saw the box moved round, and turned over. At twenty minutes to seven, P. M., the Court adjourned. FOURTH DAY. — Friday, March 22. Ephraim Littlefield, sworn. — I am the janitor of the Medical College; superintend the building, make fires, sweep, &c. Have been janitor seven years, — three winters at the Mason-street College, and four at the new. Have known Dr. Webster seven years. Have known Dr. Parkman over twenty years. Was present at an inter- view, Monday evening, Nov. 19th, between Drs. Webster and Park- man. I was in Dr. Webster's back private room, assisting him, towards evening. Dr. Webster had three candles burning. He was looking at a chemical book, and appeared to be reading. I stood at the stove stirring some water, in which something was to be dissolved. There was salt in the water. I heard no footstep, but saw Dr. Park- man enter the room from the lecture-room. Dr. Webster looked round, surprised to see him enter without being heard. He said, Dr. Webster, are you ready for me to-night? — speaking loud and quick. Dr. Webster answered, No, I am\ not ready to-night, doctor. Dr. Parkman said something else, I do not remember what. He either spoke of Dr. Webster's selling something mortgaged, or mortgaging something sold. Dr. Parkman took out papers from his pocket, and Dr. Webster said, I was not aware it was so. Dr. Parkman said, It is so, and you know it. Dr. Webster replied, I will see you to-morrow. Dr. Parkman stood near the threshold of the door, raised his hand, and said, Something must be done to-morrow. He went out, and it was the last time I ever saw him in the building. When I was standing in front of the College, about half past one o'clock, the next day, Tuesday, Dr. Webster came and asked me if 1 could carry a note to Dr. Parkman, and added, that if I could not get any one I could trust, that I must carry it up myself. I got a boy, named John Maxwell, to carry it up. He was gone about twenty minutes, and said he gave it into Dr. Parkman's hands, at his house. I had an interview with Dr. Webster about noon, the same day Dr. Parkman was there — Monday — before Dr. Parkman was there in the evening. I am very positive it was that same day. Dr. Webster asked if the vault had ever been fixed, where we used to put the remains of subjects from the dissecting-room, and from the Demon- strator of Anatomy's room,—meaning the vault in the entry. He added, that there had been something said about having it repaired, or a new one built. He asked what the matter was with it. He$